74163's 100-word story for August 14, 2025

74163 wrote the following micro-story on Hectalex on August 14, 2025. Each story on Hectalex is inspired by a daily visual prompt and must be exactly 100 words.

The street was quiet except for the soft humming of air conditioners hanging from every building. I looked up at the tall apartments, their balconies covered in metal bars like cages. Some had plants, some had laundry swaying in the warm air. It felt like the buildings were watching me, leaning in closer. The sunlight was fading, turning the walls golden. A streetlamp stood tall, ready to light the way when night came. I wondered who lived behind those windows, what stories they had. For a moment, I felt small, but also curious, like I’d just stepped into another world.

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